LE MARS, Iowa (AP) — A broken elevator that left some elderly residents stranded in a Le Mars apartment building for months is back in operation. Le Mars Fire Chief David Schipper tells the Sioux City Journal that the elevator at Floyd Valley Apartments was certified by a state inspector Friday. It first went out of service in August.

The delay in repairing the elevator was due to problems getting special parts for it shipped from Pennsylvania. One part was dropped down the elevator shaft and broke a couple of weeks ago, slowing the repair process even more.

Many residents in the five-floor complex were not able to use stairs and had to rely on friends, family and the building manager to get groceries, do laundry and retrieve mail.